Pillar 8
Government Schemes
India's government runs more than a dozen savings, insurance, and pension schemes: Public Provident Fund, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, NPS, EPF, the Pradhan Mantri Bima schemes, and others. Each has different eligibility, returns, lock-in periods, and tax treatment. This section explains what each scheme actually is, who can use it, and how the mechanics work. These are research-led explainers, not recommendations.
11 articles
A pillar guide to India's government savings schemes, PPF, EPF, NPS, SSY, APY, SCSS, POMIS, NSC, KVP, SGB and PMJJBY/PMSBY, with current Q1 2026 rates, tax treatment, and where each fits.
12 min read
What is Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana? The 8.2% interest rate, eligibility (girl child below 10), 15-year contribution + 21-year maturity, partial withdrawal at 18, and EEE tax treatment explained with worked example.
9 min read
What is Sovereign Gold Bond? The 2.5% annual coupon, 8-year tenure, gold-price-linked redemption, tax-free capital gains at maturity, and the 2024 discontinuation of new tranches explained.
9 min read
SCSS pays 8.2% for the Jul-Sep 2026 quarter, held since April 2023. The ₹30 lakh cap, quarterly payout, 5+3 year lock-in, 80C, and the new ₹1 lakh TDS rule.
13 min read
PPF pays 7.1% for Jul-Sep 2026, unchanged since 2020. See the Rs 500 to Rs 1.5 lakh limits, EEE tax, 15-year lock-in, withdrawal rules and a maturity example.
13 min read
Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS) pays 7.4% a year, credited monthly. A Rs 9 lakh deposit gives Rs 5,550 a month for 5 years. Payout table, limits and tax.
13 min read
PMJJBY vs PMSBY: Rs 436/yr for Rs 2 lakh life cover vs Rs 20/yr for Rs 2 lakh accident cover. Age limits, the 30-day lien, claims, and holding both for Rs 456.
14 min read
NSC vs KVP compared: 7.7% with Section 80C tax benefit vs 7.5% with money-doubling guarantee. Tenure, rates, tax treatment, eligibility, and how the two post office certificates differ.
9 min read
What is NPS (National Pension System)? Tier I vs Tier II, equity/debt/government asset choices, Section 80CCD(1B) extra ₹50K deduction, and the 60% lump sum + 40% annuity rule at retirement.
9 min read
What is EPF (Employee Provident Fund)? The 8.25% interest rate, mandatory 12%+12% employee/employer contribution, EPS split, withdrawal rules, and tax treatment explained for salaried Indian workers.
9 min read
What is Atal Pension Yojana? The guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000-₹5,000 at age 60, eligibility for unorganized-sector workers aged 18-40, monthly contribution table, and how APY differs from NPS.
9 min read